Chapter 18
Unlawful marriages and fleshly lusts.
—Here is a law against all conformity to the corrupt usages of the heathen. Also laws against
incest, against brutal lusts, and barbarous idolatries; and the enforcement of these laws from the
ruin of the Canaanites. God here gives moral precepts. Close and constant adherence to God's
ordinances is the most effectual preservative from gross sin. The grace of God only will secure us;
that grace is to be expected only in the use of the means of grace. Nor does He ever leave any to
their hearts' lusts, till they have left him and his services.
Chapter 19
laws.
—There are some ceremonial precepts in this chapter, but most of these precepts are binding
on us, for they are explanations of the ten commandments. It is required that Israel be a holy people,
because the God of Israel is a holy God, ver. #(2). To teach real separation from the world and the
flesh, and entire devotedness to God. This is now the law of Christ; may the Lord bring every
thought within us into obedience to it! Children are to be obedient to their parents, ver. #(3). The
fear here required includes inward reverence and esteem, outward respect and obedience, care to
please them and to make them easy. God only is to be worshipped, ver. #(4). Turn not from the
true God to false ones, from the God who will make you holy and happy, to those that will deceive
you, and make you for ever miserable. Turn not your eyes to them, much less your heart. They
should leave the gleanings of their harvest and vintage for the poor, ver. #(9). Works of piety must
be always attended with works of charity, according to our ability. We must not be covetous, griping,
and greedy of every thing we can lay claim to, nor insist upon our right in all things. We are to be
honest and true in all our dealings, ver. #(11). Whatever we have in the world, we must see that we
get it honestly, for we cannot be truly rich, or long rich, with that which is not so. Reverence to the
sacred name of God must be shown, ver. #(12). We must not detain what belongs to another,
particularly the wages of the hireling, ver. #(13). We must be tender of the credit and safety of
those that cannot help themselves, ver. #(14). Do no hurt to any, because they are unwilling or
unable to avenge themselves. We ought to take heed of doing any thing which may occasion our
weak brother to fall. The fear of God should keep us from doing wrong things, though they will
not expose us to men's anger. Judges, and all in authority, are commanded to give judgment without
partiality, ver. #(15). To be a tale-bearer, and to sow discord among neighbours, is as bad an office
as a man can put himself into. We are to rebuke our neighbour in love, ver. #(17). Rather rebuke
him than hate him, for an injury done to thyself. We incur guilt by not reproving; it is hating our
brother. We should say, I will do him the kindness to tell him of his faults. We are to put off all
malice, and to put on brotherly love, ver. #(18). We often wrong ourselves, but we soon forgive
ourselves those wrongs, and they do not at all lessen our love to ourselves; in like manner we should
love our neighbour. We must in many cases deny ourselves for the good of our neighbour. Ver.
#(31): For Christians to have their fortunes told, to use spells and charms, or the like, is a sad affront